Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur's first offseason program kicks off

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns coach Pat Shurmur didn't have an offseason program last year to install his scheme.

After beginning his head coaching career last year with no off-season program because of the NFL lockout, Pat Shurmur got his first taste of one as a head coach Monday when the Browns' workouts kicked off in Berea.

"It's exciting," Shurmur said on a conference call. "For coaches to see players back, that's an exciting thing. So I'm looking forward to it. I understand and realize how important these [workouts] can be, so that you can get your systems in place, to refine. The players have a chance to work together and start to develop a winning chemistry."

Shurmur was impressed with the attendance at the voluntary workouts.

"There's a couple of guys that weren't here and I knew why," he said. "[But] it was a great turnout in my opinion."

One player not there was linebacker Scott Fujita, who was in New York meeting with NFL officials about the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal and other league matters. Fujita, a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee, admitted to Sports Illustrated's Peter King last month that he paid defensive teammates in New Orleans for big plays, but not for hurting players and not as part of the bounty program.

Goodell is expected to decide soon on the penalties for the players that were involved in the scheme.

"I don't know any details," Shurmur said about Fujita's situation.

As for the turnout in Berea, Shurmur said it bodes well for the season.

"I think that's an important thing to remember," he said. "It tells me that they're excited to get back to work. So No. 1 that's an important thing. It says a lot about the direction this team wants to go."

Shurmur stressed the benefits of having this time to fine-tune the schemes that were installed last year on the fly. He met most of his players last season when training camp opened in late July.

"From what I saw, the players are looking forward to revisiting the things we did well last year and making improvements on the things that we didn't do well," said Shurmur. "You get to work with some of the new coaches and some of the new players. For me, I just have a much better view of what our team is and the areas we need to improve in to get ourselves in a position to play in the playoffs and compete to play in the big game. And I think that's what we're looking to do."

It's also the first off-season program under the restrictive rules of the new collective bargaining agreement. The program is split into three phases: Phase I, which lasts two weeks, includes conditioning and meeting with coaches but no on-field work. Phases II and III include 10 on-field organized team activities and one mandatory full-squad minicamp. The program can run for 10 weeks, with one week off. Shurmur has chosen to work for the first nine weeks and then give the players the final week off.

Dates for upcoming practices -- which are all closed to the public -- are as follows:

•Rookie minicamp: May 11-13.

•OTAs: May 22-24, May 30-June 1, June 12-15.

•Full-squad minicamp: June 5-7.

After deferring questions about the draft to General Manager Tom Heckert, Shurmur addressed a number of other topics.

•He said he met with Colt McCoy Monday morning, but didn't feel compelled to address the team's pursuit of Robert Griffin III and other quarterbacks. "I didn't think that was necessary," said Shurmur. "We talked about what we want to accomplish in the off-season."

•On linebacker Marcus Benard, who's recovered from a hand injury suffered in a motorcycle accident: "He looks actually good. I'm hoping to see the best of Marcus, and he looks good. I've seen him a couple of times through the off-season and he was there today. I didn't get a chance to watch in the weight room. I'm not allowed to be in there yet, but from what I heard, he performed well."

•On the possibility of moving Benard back to linebacker: "No, our thoughts are to keep him at defensive end and have him in there competing."

•On the impact of having running backs Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson healthy this year: "I think it's important. You have to have your running backs performing at a high level. And to do that, they've obviously got to get themselves trained and stay healthy. Of course, we've seen over short periods of time that those players you mentioned, Brandon and Montario, can play at a high level, so I'm hopeful they'll get themselves better and improve like the rest of the players."

•On his involvement in the draft: "I'm very heavily involved and I talk to Tom every day."

•On being pro-active about making sure there are no bounties: "There has been education. Really, it was initiated by us. Of course this will be a point of emphasis. I'll talk to the team about it."

MORE FUJITA: Fujita was one of several members of the NFLPA executive committee, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who met with league officials Monday. NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith was also there. The NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that the two sides didn't make much progress on what sanctions should levied on players involved in the bounty program. . . . NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora reported that Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is bracing for a two- to four-game suspension.

EXTRA POINTS: The NFL Schedule will be announced Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the NFL Network and nfl.com. . . . Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill visited the Browns on Sunday night and Monday and then headed to Buffalo, which has the 10th overall pick in the draft. . . . SI.com's King reported he's hearing Browns President Mike Holmgren is still trying to decide if Tannehill is a franchise quarterback and that Heckert likes Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon.